Re: Brilliant!
Thank you, but.... ;-)
I do not think you can equate house prejudice with racism based on blood status. And I think that Rowling, et al, are taking the position that it's GOOD to be biased against Slytherin because that's where the anti-Muggleborn racists are. And that one can, in fact, choose not to be in Slytherin...just look at Harry.
The problem I have with that is that we see the *exact opposite* in Snape's story. He is welcomed by Slytherin House when he sorts there, by prefect Lucius Malfoy, no less. BTW, in Chapter 4 ("Eileen Prince's Son") of 1981, we specifically address Severus' first year in Hogwarts and a discussion he has with Lucius and Narcissa Black on just how Slytherin House treats half-bloods. Please forgive the plug. ;-)
Anyway, it is the Gryffindors, specifically Sirius Black and James Potter, who object to Severus' very *existence* and James Potter who offers the justification for what, looking back, would appear to be a racially motivated attack if we are going to follow Rowling's equation of blood prejudice with racial hatred. And yet it appears she would have us hold Slytherin responsible. Down the rabbit hole....
I do not think you can equate house prejudice with racism based on blood status. And I think that Rowling, et al, are taking the position that it's GOOD to be biased against Slytherin because that's where the anti-Muggleborn racists are. And that one can, in fact, choose not to be in Slytherin...just look at Harry.
The problem I have with that is that we see the *exact opposite* in Snape's story. He is welcomed by Slytherin House when he sorts there, by prefect Lucius Malfoy, no less. BTW, in Chapter 4 ("Eileen Prince's Son") of 1981, we specifically address Severus' first year in Hogwarts and a discussion he has with Lucius and Narcissa Black on just how Slytherin House treats half-bloods. Please forgive the plug. ;-)
Anyway, it is the Gryffindors, specifically Sirius Black and James Potter, who object to Severus' very *existence* and James Potter who offers the justification for what, looking back, would appear to be a racially motivated attack if we are going to follow Rowling's equation of blood prejudice with racial hatred. And yet it appears she would have us hold Slytherin responsible. Down the rabbit hole....